The chairmen of two pivotal House committees have reached a deal that could give energy legislation enough votes to pass this week.

Agriculture Chairman Collin C. Peterson , D-Minn., and Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry A. Waxman , D-Calif., said Tuesday evening that they have resolved disputes over how the bill (HR 2454) will treat farmers and rural districts.

These issues were the biggest remaining obstacle to the bill’s support in the Democratic Caucus. In general, the deal favors the farm industry over the wishes of environmental groups.

“We have something that I think works for agriculture,” Peterson said. “Things that are not nailed down, we are kind of on the same page going forward.” In light of this agreement, Waxman said, “we’re going to pass this bill and move on.”

Their agreement would put the Department of Agriculture, rather than the EPA, in charge of special projects to reduce emissions in rural areas — for example, by planting trees on farmland.

“We will seek guidance from the administration to figure out the appropriate role for the EPA,” Waxman said.

They will also add language to halt an EPA proposal, disliked by farm groups, to measure the greenhouse gas emissions that might indirectly result if more farmland is used for growing biofuel stock. They said the proposal would be on hold for five years pending a scientific study and consultation with federal agencies and Congress.

Both changes are likely to anger environmental groups, which say EPA has superior expertise in these areas. But, Waxman said, “I think we will hold the environmentalists.”

Peterson said he would vote for the bill, though other members are waiting to see final language. House leadership wants to bring the bill to the floor on June 26.

Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md., said a Saturday vote was also possible. “I will advise members they may be here this weekend,” he said.

Jim Matheson of Utah, one of four Democrats who voted against the bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee, said earlier Tuesday that many of his colleagues were still reviewing the bill. “If people aren’t on the committee, a lot of Democrats are wondering what’s really in the bill,” he said.

Trade associations also are scrutinizing the measure. “We’re trying to understand what the changes are and what they mean,” said Jim Owen, a spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute, which represents electric utilities. “People are walking around saying some bad words about this. There are a lot of moving parts, and the little-bitty details matter a lot.”

Waxman unveiled a revised bill June 22 that resolved another issue Peterson had raised on behalf of rural electric cooperatives and other small Midwestern utilities. The bill would now give these utilities a portion of the pollution allowances that businesses would use to meet the bill’s cap on greenhouse gas emissions.